Open AccessWorld Opioid and Substance Use Epidemic: A Latin American Perspective
Author(s) -
PacurucuCastillo Saul Francisco,
OrdóñezMancheno José Marcelo,
HernándezCruz Adrián,
Alarcón Renato D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psychiatric research and clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2575-5609
DOI - 10.1176/appi.prcp.20180009
Subject(s) - latin americans , globe , public health , substance abuse , variety (cybernetics) , population , political science , economic growth , consumption (sociology) , development economics , medicine , environmental health , criminology , psychology , sociology , psychiatry , economics , social science , nursing , artificial intelligence , computer science , law , ophthalmology
The opioid crisis is a growing social and public health phenomenon, particularly in developed countries such as the United States. Since the 1990s, this crisis has shown a variety of causal processes and consequences and has affected quality of life for millions of individuals, families, and communities across the globe. Although abuse of opioid‐based painkillers appears to have triggered the epidemic in the United States, in this article, the problem is examined with a focus on Latin America, where drug‐associated problems constitute threats to the health and quality of life for large segments of the population. After a review of the history of opium consumption and its consequences in the world and in Latin America, the authors present epidemiological data and information about regional market differences, professional involvement, clinical practices, public health realities, and prevention efforts. Recommendations are made for collaborative efforts to promote prevention policies and measures to improve the situation.